Beacon House, University of Bristol

Beacon House is a landmark 1850s Grade II listed building in Clifton, Bristol. Acquired by the University in 2014, it has undergone a complete redevelopment, transforming it into a state-of-the- art central study and learning hub with a new public reception point for the University, and a stylish café.

Requirements for the flooring included a design that referenced the heritage of the institution and its existing building stock. It also needed to reflect the modern functionality of the city centre and the University’s brand ideals, with the use of natural materials and a clear emphasis on design providence. Within the scheme, the ‘Source’ café needed a strong visual identity to make it stand out amongst strong local competition, including multiple independent cafés.

Incorporating zoning with feature colours created visually distinct areas whilst maintaining seamless transitions and the overall cohesion of the design. Amtico Signature finishes were chosen not only to be exciting and attractive, but also highly durable, slip resistant (R10 classification) and allow Beacon House’s staff to easily clean the areas, with a simple schedule to maintain the flooring’s high visual impact.

The University of Bristol carefully considered the flooring, both in its design and practicality. Project Manager, Rebecca Rose, enthused: “Having trialled Amtico in another University building, we already had complete confidence that it was the right product for Beacon House. Clearly the high footfall was an important consideration, so the durable and robust wear layer on the Signature range gave us confidence we wouldn’t experience any issues. In fact, in the first four days of opening we had 10,000 people through the doors during poor weather conditions and the floor continued to look great!

“Overall, we’re really impressed with the Amtico flooring. The design has brought together the areas to create some amazing spaces, and the comments we’ve had from staff and visitors have all been positive. We’d certainly use the flooring on future projects.”

Feature colours help to define areas, with the café incorporating relaxing green tones, the reception utilising the University of Bristol’s brand colour; a welcoming red, and the study areas embracing a calming blue hue.